kfeusse Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 We have been using tracfone for a long time. But I just started noticing that Walmart, Target and other places have their own versions of these types of phones. Has anybody here compared any of them....as far as cost, coverage, options, etc. Just curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I no longer have a pay as you go phone but when I did, I researched them all! There may have been a new one or two that have cropped up in the last few months. What are your needs? My needs were unlimited talk and text, so I didn't want a pay by the minute plan. I opted for Straight Talk for $45/mo but then tried out Republic Wireless for $25/mo. I hear good things about Ting but they were more expensive for the unlimited talk/text plan. I talk and text a LOT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 We used to have Tracfones, but I switched to Republic Wireless because it seemed the best deal for me - smart phone, access to data (unlimited so far), unlimited talk/text. My dd and dh still have tracfones because they rarely use they phones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Yeah, it really depends on what you need. Me, I just need a few minutes, and I don't need data. I have my mothers hand-me-down smartphone, so if I really need data I can go to someplace with free wi-fi. I spend about $100/year on the phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 we (my hubby and I) just switched over to a tracfone smart phone. So this is the first time dealing with talk, text, data minutes. For me, I test a lot, talk some and use the data very little (as of right now). So I can see my texting minutes going down fast, talking is pretty average, but I have most of my data minutes left yet. But, my data minutes might change as time goes on. My hubby NEVER texts, talks a little....and will probably use his data time more than me....but he rarely uses his phone. He got this one because it works like an ipod...so he can load audio books and pod casts to it. We really didn't want to pay a monthly fee....however, $25 doesn't seem too bad...but I think even with what I am doing now....it will probably average out to about that. Time will tell with that one. I have a ton of service days left on my phone...so I won't have to worry too much about that. If tracfone would see just texting minutes, I would love it. But right now, the only minutes they sell alone are data minutes. So I was mostly just curious what others thought of the different brands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Da had AT&T for $25/month, 250 minutes talk, unlimited texting, no data. It worked for him. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I've had a Straight talk phone for over two years. It's fine for my use. I would read the reviews on the Web and watch some un boxing videos on YouTube before you buy. My ST phone is a Samsung Proclaim that runs an Android OS. My kids have unlocked phones and use T-mobile's 30-month plan (150 min talk/unlimited data) for $30/month. They are much more tech say and bought really nice phones (bigger screens, speakers, storage) with their own money. My next phone will be an unlocked phone as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I've had a Straight talk phone for over two years. It's fine for my use. I would read the reviews on the Web and watch some un boxing videos on YouTube before you buy. My ST phone is a Samsung Proclaim that runs an Android OS. My kids have unlocked phones and use T-mobile's 30-month plan (150 min talk/unlimited data) for $30/month. They are much more tech say and bought really nice phones (bigger screens, speakers, storage) with their own money. My next phone will be an unlocked phone as well. Dh and do the unlocked AT&T phones on ST as well. An iPhone and a Galaxy, and they seem to work a lot better than ST's stock phones. At the end of the day, it is all about the signal where you live imo. In FL, we had amazing reception with TMobile or ATT. Here we live in the middle of nowhere, so while we have an excellent call signal, data signal sucks for just about any carrier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Be careful with so-called unlimited data. Tracfone, which includes Straight Talk, was recently fined for deceptive practices regarding their unlimited data. Of course, they're not the only ones who slow down speed for heavy data users, but the others don't hide the fact that they do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Be careful with so-called unlimited data. Tracfone, which includes Straight Talk, was recently fined for deceptive practices regarding their unlimited data. Of course, they're not the only ones who slow down speed for heavy data users, but the others don't hide the fact that they do it. It's only because people don't read the details. :) No plan is truly unlimited. If you consistently go way over a certain amount, it will slow down the speed tremendously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Just check your coverage. I've told this story before, but I found out the hard way that most of the providers have scaled back somewhat on their coverage for that type of phone in more remote parts of the U.S. I was travelling to visit relatives the year before, letting folks use my phone to call from the airport van because they had no coverage. Then the next time I was there because of a death in the family, zero coverage for that carrier past the metropolitan areas of that state. I was having to use the pay phone in the police station and the public library to make my calls to the funeral director, etc. when I was out. There's only one carrier that works in that area. Then several years later we were overseas in a remote area. I had checked, and we were supposed to have coverage. Nope. We had to rent a cell phone there, which was our only option if we wanted to make any calls at all because there were so few land lines, and none where we were staying. Now I'm always concerned when we travel. No problems with any of the carriers where we live, but outside of that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meena Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 We had Straight Talk unlimited talk/text and data for 2+ years with no problems. It was $45/month for each line. The data slowed after 1 GB, I think, but that was never a problem as we are in WiFi spots most of the time and don't usually utilize streaming unless we're using WiFi. We switched to Cricket a few months ago. It's $35/month for each line, unlimited talk/text, 2.5 GB data before we get slowed down, uses AT&T's network. So far it's worked well for us. We've been using various pay-as-you-go carriers for years and love it. It's fabulous to not have to be tied down to a contract. We can switch phones or carriers whenever we want or need without worrying about penalties. It's certainly less expensive. Besides cheaper monthly rates, with PAYG you don't have to pay all the taxes and fees that a regular phone line has. With Straight Talk we did pay sales tax but with Cricket there are no taxes or fees. The main downfall is having to pay for the phone. We mitigate that by buying used phones and not upgrading every time the newest iteration comes out. Totally worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 It's only because people don't read the details. :) No plan is truly unlimited. If you consistently go way over a certain amount, it will slow down the speed tremendously. The closest to unlimited plans, which we considered when we were thinking let's get a family plan and drop cable and do it all through one phone on a dock--was about $150 per month. That was a plan, not a pay as you go. I have pay-as-you go with AT&T, also the $25 plan, no data but I use wifi. I live in a metro area but have had fairly good reception in small towns, on long drives, and in several national and state parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Years ago yes. Again, it does depend on your needs. We went with T-mobile. If you buy a $100 card to start you can carry over unused minutes if you add at least $10 per year onto your account. That works for us because we hardly use the phone. If I had to pay even $10 a month to have the phone, I'd probably get rid of it because that would be a waste of money for us. We have a dumb phone and never do anything like text. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 We had Straight Talk unlimited talk/text and data for 2+ years with no problems. It was $45/month for each line. The data slowed after 1 GB, I think, but that was never a problem as we are in WiFi spots most of the time and don't usually utilize streaming unless we're using WiFi. We switched to Cricket a few months ago. It's $35/month for each line, unlimited talk/text, 2.5 GB data before we get slowed down, uses AT&T's network. So far it's worked well for us. We've been using various pay-as-you-go carriers for years and love it. It's fabulous to not have to be tied down to a contract. We can switch phones or carriers whenever we want or need without worrying about penalties. It's certainly less expensive. Besides cheaper monthly rates, with PAYG you don't have to pay all the taxes and fees that a regular phone line has. With Straight Talk we did pay sales tax but with Cricket there are no taxes or fees. The main downfall is having to pay for the phone. We mitigate that by buying used phones and not upgrading every time the newest iteration comes out. Totally worth it. Once ATT went to the Mobile Share plan, it was cheaper to get on the plan for the entire family than for us to each have even Republic Wireless's $25/each plan. Plus we can pick our phones and use them as a hotspot, things we couldn't do with RW. Yes, we have to buy our own phones, but we don't need the latest and greatest (although I do envy those with the new iPhone 6+!) The plan is $100 for the first phones and then $15 per additional phone (we have 5). The total is $175, but Dh's work gives us a 25% discount and they pay $40 for his portion, so the total ends up being right around $100 out of our pockets for the plan. Unlimited talk and text and 15 gb of shared data. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeAndTheBoys Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I have had tracfone for years. I dont' use my cell phone for talking too much--mostly texting and checking emails when out. I can load it up with 1000 minutes (which ends up as 1000 talking, 1000 texting, 1000 "data units", whatever that means) for, I don't know maybe $60 or $75 or something, and that will last me about 6 months. I broke down and upgraded to a low-end android smart phone at Christmas when they were on sale for $30-$50, several models, and added the google voice app--so I can text and call through that for free when I have wifi access, and using google voice with data uses less "units" than regular texting or calling. For my use, Tracfone has been excellent; I look at other companies, but nothing looks better for what I need. B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeAndTheBoys Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 oops, double post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Once ATT went to the Mobile Share plan, it was cheaper to get on the plan for the entire family than for us to each have even Republic Wireless's $25/each plan. Plus we can pick our phones and use them as a hotspot, things we couldn't do with RW. Yes, we have to buy our own phones, but we don't need the latest and greatest (although I do envy those with the new iPhone 6+!) We switched to AT&T Mobile Share recently, now my phone (a Note 1) has died and I need a new one. I know I want either a Note (3? 4?) or a Samsung S5. My kids found themselves S3 Minis for a good price on Amazon, but when I search for the phones I want there they all have like 500 things written after them, and it confuses me. Where do you all buy your phones? Is there a store I can go to that's competitively priced with what you can find on the internet? I'd really like to talk to a real person and be able to ask questions and understand exactly what I'm getting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamanthaCarter Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I use PagePlus, it works well for me because it uses the Verizon network, which is the very best coverage in this area. If you can stand hearing your phone tell you your current remaining balance everytime you make a phone call I think it's a pretty good deal. $80 for 2000 minutes. (you have to use up the 2000 minutes within a year.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 I have had tracfone for years. I dont' use my cell phone for talking too much--mostly texting and checking emails when out. I can load it up with 1000 minutes (which ends up as 1000 talking, 1000 texting, 1000 "data units", whatever that means) for, I don't know maybe $60 or $75 or something, and that will last me about 6 months. I broke down and upgraded to a low-end android smart phone at Christmas when they were on sale for $30-$50, several models, and added the google voice app--so I can text and call through that for free when I have wifi access, and using google voice with data uses less "units" than regular texting or calling. For my use, Tracfone has been excellent; I look at other companies, but nothing looks better for what I need. B tell me more about this google voice app? Do you have to get a separate number for texts? We have the tracfone optimus dual phone. So I am assuming the app would work on my phone. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeAndTheBoys Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 tell me more about this google voice app? Do you have to get a separate number for texts? We have the tracfone optimus dual phone. So I am assuming the app would work on my phone. thanks. yes, google voice gave me a new local phone number and that's where the texts come from when I text people. I am NOT savvy about stuff like that; I just went to google voice and set it up, but I dont' really understand it----- I can check the texts when I have wifi or data active; it uses WAY less data to check my google voice texts than comparable Tracfone texting minutes. I just gave people my new number and said, you should probably still call or text my old number, but if you get a text/call from here, it's me :) and you can text me back. It's a little confusing and I'm sure there are things I could do to simplify it, but I really just call/text the same small circle of people and they know I'm quirky, so they have been okay about it-- I can also check google voice texts on my laptop and answer them there--my sibs are better about texting than emailing, so it has been helpful to me to be able to text them from my computer too, using google voice B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 sorry for my ignorance...but...let me ask this...you get a different number for which you use to text others...but they can still use your old number to text you and you will get it?? They don't have to use your new number to text you, right? However, if they don't, you will get charged, right?? But if you start the text and they respond then it's free? How hard is it to get started with this...and was it annoying to tell everybody your new "texting only number"....or is this also a calling number??... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeAndTheBoys Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 sorry for my ignorance...but...let me ask this...you get a different number for which you use to text others...but they can still use your old number to text you and you will get it?? They don't have to use your new number to text you, right? However, if they don't, you will get charged, right?? But if you start the text and they respond then it's free? How hard is it to get started with this...and was it annoying to tell everybody your new "texting only number"....or is this also a calling number??... Google Voice gives you a whole new number to use. If you call or text someone, that's what shows up. If they want to call or text you, they need your new number. Yes, it is a little hassle-ish; I only gave my new number out to my sibs and some close friends that I text often, so I could save my minutes. People I just call or text casually--they still use my "real" number and suck out my minutes, sigh--but I really don't call/text most people very often. You can have your Google Voice stuff "forwarded" to your regular number, but then when it comes through, it will count as a regular cell phone call against your regular phone plan--so there is no advantage to that. YES, if you text someone with your Google voice number and they just reply back, it will come to the Google Voice number and it's free. so sometimes I will text someone and begin it with--"this is from bxxx", then they know it's me even if they don't recognize the number, and they just text back without really thinking about it, and I'm using my free Google Voice text. I am NOT a high-tech person, so it's amazing that I've figured this much out :) and it was easy to set up on the Google Voice website and easy to install the app--it was self-explanatory. But as far as figuring out how to do more with it, I have NO idea, sorry :) It is a calling number and a texting number--it has been good to use when I'm out of town and in a hotel, need to make calls, and I can use Google Voice and go through the wifi in the room instead of sucking out my minutes. Best way to figure it out is just to set it up and play around with it--and maybe you can explain some of it to ME, lol. B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 one more dumb, clarifying question...so basically...if I just tell everybody that I got a new phone number and share it...then that's it, right?? except if I didn't have wi-fi, my calls and texts would come from my other number then, right??...could i use my data minutes and then use my google voice number? So basically I would have 2 numbers from which I can use, yes?? hmmm...wonder how annoying that is for other people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeAndTheBoys Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 one more dumb, clarifying question...so basically...if I just tell everybody that I got a new phone number and share it...then that's it, right?? except if I didn't have wi-fi, my calls and texts would come from my other number then, right??...could i use my data minutes and then use my google voice number? So basically I would have 2 numbers from which I can use, yes?? hmmm...wonder how annoying that is for other people. If you keep your data turned on (I turn my data off so I don't accidentally drain it), it could be your "real phone number" and it would use data minutes if you had no wifi access, and would use wifi if you had wifi on and were connected. Yes, it is a little annoying--that's why I've just given it to family and a few friends as an "alternate number" to program into their contact list so they'll at least know it's me calling/texging. The people I don't text/call regularly would probably think I was crazy if I started giving them multiple numbers and a list of "rules", lol, so I save the confusion for people who love me. But YES, to answer your question, you can use your data minutes and use your google voice number. It seems to drain less out of my total data usage than comparable phone and text minutes, and the sound quality is good, according to people I have called using it (although I'm sure that depends on the quality of the wifi connection, if you're using wifi to use google voice). b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 We switched to AT&T Mobile Share recently, now my phone (a Note 1) has died and I need a new one. I know I want either a Note (3? 4?) or a Samsung S5. My kids found themselves S3 Minis for a good price on Amazon, but when I search for the phones I want there they all have like 500 things written after them, and it confuses me. Where do you all buy your phones? Is there a store I can go to that's competitively priced with what you can find on the internet? I'd really like to talk to a real person and be able to ask questions and understand exactly what I'm getting. Dh had his phone already (iPhone 5) so he kept that one. I bought a Samsung Galaxy 3 over a year ago from my local mom's group for my son, I also found another iPhone 5 off of that local mom's group for a phone for my other son. I got mine off of Craigslist. We buy used. You can't buy new for any less than the store offers unfortunately. I just do my research online, but for Galaxy phones and iPhones, we pretty much know what we are getting and don't need to go look at them physically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I recently used glyde.com to buy a AT&T iphone 5. I got a MUCH better deal than even the things I was seeing on Craigslist, and 72 hours after I received the phone to check it out before Glyde released the money to the seller. I could have sent the phone back if it didn't work correctly or had any issues. But its great! I ended up with a 32meg Iphone 5 for $160. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 one more dumb, clarifying question...so basically...if I just tell everybody that I got a new phone number and share it...then that's it, right?? except if I didn't have wi-fi, my calls and texts would come from my other number then, right??...could i use my data minutes and then use my google voice number? So basically I would have 2 numbers from which I can use, yes?? hmmm...wonder how annoying that is for other people. If your plan allows for call forwarding, you can just have your regular number forward to your voice number when at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mschickie Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I just switched from an AT& T Go Phone to a Tracfone. I got a deal to get an LG Android phone plus 1200 min, 1200 text, 1200 mb of data plus it is triple the minutes for the life of the phone. This should be plenty for me for the year. With the Go Phone we paid .25 a minute and we did $25 a quarter (= 100 minutes), the new phone package (through QVC) cost $139 which covers the minutes and such which are good for a year, the phone, case and the car charger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 One nice thing about google voice. I have it call my home number too. So, if I am home I just pick up there and no minutes are used. But, it will also reach me when I am out and about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I have a Republic Wireless phone for $25/month (including 3g). Dd has the same phone, but is on the $10/month plan (no data). You can switch back and forth twice a month, but now that I have 3g, I am hooked. My other two kids wanted an iphone, so that a used one, and pay $25/month for an At&t, no data. I don't see the benefit to that since my phone does the same thing their phone does and I get data for the same amount they are paying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 We use ptel. My dh pays less than $35 a month for three phones. We had to buy the phones separately. My dh and dd have MotoG or MotoX (don't remember which. One is newer. We have the older.) It's sort of a cheaper version of an iphone, is my understanding. I have a Huawei. ?? My dh got it for me. It's fine for my needs. The Motos are better as far as reception. All have better reception than our tracfones (we had tracfones for years). So after the initial investments of buying a phone, ptel is awesome. I think you "fill up" as you need to. He actually doesn't pay sometimes at all every month, I believe, but certainly never more than $35. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I'm reading this thread with interest, because we have used Tracfone for years but have recently become extremly unhappy with it. It has become completely unreliable. Half of the texts we send never get received. There are areas in the middle of town where we used to have perfect coverage which now have none. We just want: text and talk only as cheap as possible somewhat reliable! Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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